Simple Tips for Improved Anger Management for the New Year

As we enter a new year, I would like to mention some of the most important skills almost anyone could benefit from in their life. One of the things I like most about the new year is that we can start fresh. That is, take inventory of the things we want to change and then put into practice those life modifications.

As a big believer in the power of anger management classes, I have several suggestions that almost anyone can find beneficial. While you can learn these skills on your own, I highly recommend finding a structured class or quality online anger management course to really get the breath and depth of information relevant to these suggestions:

Tip 1: Learn how to reduce stress. Learn the basics of stress management which includes increasing exercise, improving diet, getting proper rest, and incorporating relaxation or meditation. Other stress management skills include better boundary setting with others, improving time management skills, learning to say “no”, and taking time off.

Tip 2: Have more empathy. Empathy is the ability to sense the emotions of others and be able to relate to others in a way that lets them know you understand how they feel. Content is less important than process. That is, don’t focus on what is being discussed but rather on the emotional content of the person you are having the dialog with. Increased emotional awareness makes us feel more connected to others and increases interpersonal relationships.

3. Communication is King. Learning how to communicate more assertively will certainly make a difference in the quality of ones interactions with others. Move away from being passive, avoidant, hostile, critical, contemptuous or sarcastic. Learning how to communicate your feelings and needs appropriately yields much better results.

Anger control is a journey in self improvement. Getting help is simply a matter of motivation and time. Why wait any longer?